The Florida baseball program has accomplished almost everything under coach Kevin O’Sullivan.
They’ve won a national championship, five SEC Championships and two SEC Tournament Championships. They’ve had 25 players get selected within the first five rounds of the MLB Draft, and 23 of O’Sullivan’s former players have made it to the major leagues.
Now the program will get a chance to accomplish one of the only things left: an Olympic gold medal. Former catcher Mark Kolozsvary was named to the U.S roster that will play in Tokyo by USA Baseball on Friday.
This will be the first time baseball is contested in the Olympics since 2008. The Olympics begin on July 23, but baseball won’t begin until July 27. Israel and Korea are in Group B with the U.S., while Japan, Mexico and the Dominican Republic are in Group A. The U.S. team is aiming to bring home the country’s second gold medal in baseball (2000).
Kolozsvary played in 78 games and started 39 for the Gators from 2015-17. He finished his career with a slash line of .272/.367/.444 with five home runs and 32 RBI.
The Cincinnati Reds selected him in the seventh round of the 2017 draft. He is in Double-A Chattanooga this season and batting .275/.371/.495 with three homers and 20 RBI in 25 games.
He was one of the stars for the U.S. during the Olympic qualification process, batting .417 with two home runs in four starts behind the plate.
Kolozsvary is the 24th current or former UF athlete to qualify for the Tokyo games. The group is headlined by swimmer Caeleb Dressel, considered the best male swimmer in the world, and track star Grant Holloway, the overwhelming favorite to take home the gold in the 110-meter hurdles.